Basketball World Cup Final Phase To Be Played At MOA Arena, Gilas To Open Campaign At The Philippine Arena

(Press Release)

The final stage of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will now be played at the
Mall of Asia Arena. This was announced earlier today by FIBA, moving the
games of the Final Phase that were earlier scheduled for the Philippine Arena.

“The priority that led to this decision is the experience of our fans. This is in
service of the Filipino basketball fan, as well as those arriving from all over the
world,” said SBP President Al Panlilio.

“We thank our brothers and sisters from the Iglesia ni Cristo and the Philippine
Arena Management, specifically, for being a true partner in this endeavor and we
appreciate their support of the final decision that was reached.”

The Group Phase will still be played at the Mall of Asia Arena, Araneta
Coliseum, Okinawa Arena, and Indonesia Arena, but the Final Phase will be
exclusively played in the Pasay venue.

The Philippine Arena, however, will be the venue as Gilas Pilipinas plays its first
FIBA Basketball World Cup game at home in 45 years. On August 25, the
Philippine team will open its campaign in the World Cup and a game of this
magnitude could only be held inside the world’s largest indoor arena.

“The main consideration leading to the decision was the requirement to provide
consistent and swift transfer for the teams and fans to multiple games over the
six days of the Final Phase. Despite improvements tested with transport and
traffic engineers, the Board came to the conclusion that an event with multiple
sessions in one day like the Final Phase of the World Cup must be delivered to the
standards required for the players and fans experience.” said David Crocker,
Executive Director for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

As an assurance to those who have already secured their tickets, appropriate
emails will be sent individually informing them of the venue change and further
continued advice as to their tickets and seats.